2) Volcanoes
and Lava zones: We actually have few properties for sale in the areas near
the active lava flow, much of which borders the east side of Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park. Since 1983, the lava flow has covered somewhere around 125
square miles (approx 2% of our island) and we lost approximately 200 structures
in the Kalapana and Royal Gardens neighborhoods. In recent months, a narrow
stream of lava flowed in the direction of Pahoa town. An abandoned house
and part of an old cemetery were lost, and there was some real concern if the
lava would cross Highway 130. The County took immediate preventative
measures with road detour construction should it be needed, as well as hosted
information meetings to keep residents informed. Although there was a fair
amount of "imminent disaster"
speculation in the community and on the internet, the County regularly advised that there
was "no immediate threat to local residents." After a few weeks, the
lava stream ceased to be a threat.

Living near an active volcano is a matter
of perspective. No matter where you live
there is risk of some kind of natural disaster: Earthquake, Tornado,
Hurricane, Blizzard, Flood, Lightning, Landslide, Sand Storm, Sink holes, Fire,
Volcano... It's a matter of which risks you are willing to live with. Our volcanoes tend to
ooze out a stream of lava and not explode quite like you see in other parts of the
world. When the lava flows, we literally get hundreds or thousands of people who want to
come see the flows, and to visit our national park. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

It is true that Hawaii Volcanic Lava
Zones 1 and 2 can be more difficult to get mortgage loans on homes, while most
permitted homes can get insurance through the HPIA program
(Hawaii Property Insurance Association) or Lloyds of London.
Many residents love these areas in Puna, Kau, and South Kona because
of the weather and scenic beauty. If "being as far away from the lava as possible" is important, then we have
areas in the Hilo, Hamakua, and Kohala districts to search for property.

3) Vog is more common to our
Kona side of the Island, and on occasions affects the Hilo and Puna districts of the Island. Vog generally is carried towards the
southwest of the Island by the trade winds from
the volcanic vents in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It can sometimes even affect our neighbor islands. A "Voggy"
day looks like a smoggy day, and creates colorful sunsets.
People with respiratory ailments are more prone to the adverse effects of Vog,
which can include headaches, breathing difficulties, watery eyes, and sore
throat. If Vog is a concern, we can focus your real estate search for
properties on the east and north sides of the Big Island.Big Island Vog ConditionsUH Vog
Projection Map

4) Coqui Frogs or Caribbean Tree Frogs: These small
Koki tree frogs are
said to have found their way into Hawaii several years ago in tropical plant
shipments, likely from Florida or Puerto Rico. I estimate about 25% of the clients
I work with HATE them, about 25% LOVE them, and the other half tell me "we have louder things that than where we are from!"
Coqui Frog Information

5) Rainwater Catchment Systems: Catchment
Water is fairly common in parts of our rural Big Island, where piped county
or well water is limited. Typically you have a metal
roof on your house, and use the rain gutters to catch the water where
it goes into a large steel or plastic water tank. There is a
filter system and water pump to bring the water into the house.
Catchment WaterHawaii Island
Weather

6) Big Island Hawaii Flood
Zones: All of Hawaii County is mapped with a flood zone code.
Unless you are near a stream or low elevation shoreline area,
chances are your Hawaii property will be located in Flood Zone "X", which
is the lowest level of risk area (less than 1% annual risk from surface flooding).
Some properties may have localized ponding during a heavy rain, which is
not reflected in the flood zone designation.

7) What is SSPP? Special
Subdivision Project Provision. This is a cost share between HELCO
(Hawaiian Electric Light Company) and land owners to bring electricity to
some of the rural subdivisions. When you hook up to the electric lines
you pay a share of the cost of the power poles. I've seen SSPP range
from about $500 to over $5000. Depending on the amount, you may be
able to qualify for a payment plan with Helco. For specific details you
will need a tax map key number of a particular property, then contact HELCO
Engineering (808) 969-0311

8) Hawaii Land
Tenure: Fee Simple or Leasehold. Fee Simple is when you buy the land, with
the package of legal rights that come with it.
Leasehold is when you rent the land, usually on a long term lease.
For most people, fee simple better fits their long term goals, while for
income investors, leasehold is an option worth looking at.

10) HARPTA - FIRPTA.
Hawaii Real Property Tax Law (HARPTA) allows for income tax withholding from the
proceeds of a sale. The State of Hawaii Department of Taxation generally
requires that 5% of the sale price be withheld for taxes from an out of state
Seller, unless you qualify for an exemption. Likewise, the US Government has
the

Foreign Investment in Real
Property Tax Act
(FIRPTA)
which requires that 10% of the sale price to be withheld for federal income tax
from non-US residents. The Seller will get
credit for the amount withheld towards any income tax owed on
capital gain when the sale is reported on their Federal and/or Hawaii non-resident
income tax return. HARPTAFIRPTA

11) How many
square feet are in an acre? 43,560 feet are in one acre. For most
people, an acre of land is plenty to take care of. 12,000 sq ft is enough
to give you a nice front yard and a back yard, while 8,000 sq ft gives you one
or the other.

12) Can I use
a Mainland lender to buy property in Hawaii? Yes - BUT! Off-Island
mortgage agents may not familiar with some unique details in making loans in our
local market, such as volcanic zones, agriculture
zoning, catchment water systems, or which type of loans work in the various
districts and subdivisions. I'm glad to work with whomever lender you
choose, but I would like to encourage you to check out the recommended local
lenders and mortgage brokers on my Hiloagent.com website, if just to compare
loan options.
Referral Resources

13) Where is the best place to live on the Big
Island of Hawaii? Well... it all depends on YOU. What I have found
is people generally like where they live, and for that reason, recommend that
area or subdivision, and they do not always recommend where someone else lives.
Some people like the warm dry sunny Southern California like weather of
our Kona coast on the west side of Hawaii Island, with nearby golf and beach resorts,
condos and timeshares, tourist shops and restaurants, sandy beaches of South
Kohala and green pasture landscape around Waimea. Others prefer the
cooler, more tropical and greener Hilo side of Hawaii Island, with its sunny
mornings, partly cloudy afternoons, and rain most evenings as the clouds pass
high around the mountains. Hilo has a "local Hawaii" small town
atmosphere, scenic but rockier coastline with parks along Hilo Bay, or the developing Puna district
from eclectic Pahoa to
artsy Volcano, rural and farmish by nature, with relative
privacy in the Ohia forest. I have worked with clients who have
moved from one side of the Big Island to the other saying "it was so different
than what everyone told us!"
Recommended Books

Mahalo for visiting my Big Island Hawaii Real Estate Website! Kevin E. Lewis, Realtor® Clark Realty Corporation - Hilo Orchid Isle NOBODY Knows the Big Island Like We Do!™The information contained on this website is from various sources that are considered reliable but cannot be guaranteed. Disclosure: I may receive a small commission from products purchased thru links on this website.